Jean Jennings, Editor in Chief of Automobile Magazine, says women shouldn’t be afraid of popping a hood, and she should know. “I’ve owned and worked on three class-8 trucks,” she told the Daily News, “And also owned and operated a taxi cab for four years. I had to teach myself how to work on it because I couldn’t afford to get it fixed.” She also worked as a crash-test mechanic.

Today, after three decades in automotive journalism, Jennings is launching JeanKnowsCars.com. It’s an interactive toolbox geared to all drivers but especially women, who haven’t had an automotive media brand to call their own up to now. “The reality is the emotional world of auto enjoyment is owned by men,” she said. “All car companies are run by men. Most car dealerships are run by men. But when you look at who is buying cars, something like 80% of car purchases are influenced by women. I’m trying to give women the tools to have a more positive experience at the dealership. It’s the year 2012 and it still can be a terrible experience for women at a dealership. Salespeople still say, ‘When is your husband coming in?’ or the woman will ask a question and the salesperson will answer the man.

You also don’t have to be a budding female gearhead to use the site, though Jennings says working on cars is a lot easier than most women think, not to mention less expensive. “All you have to do is learn to use the tools. My cab needed a brake job about once a month and a tune-up once a month, and I did them. I also replaced an alternator. The more you do it, the cooler it is. A car is not magic and you don’t have to be really strong.”

Most of all, Jennings says, she looks forward to helping to take the mystery out of car buying and ownership for women while retaining all the emotion and fun.

“You don’t have to know the secret car handshake to hang with us,” she says.“Cars are part of a well-rounded life. It’s the last thing we put on in the morning. This site will tell women how how to buy a car, how to pack a car, how to merge on the freeway, just general knowledge. You’ll also be able to come to my house, see my dogs---and my hat collection.”